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Now accepting 2011 Spruce The Bruce Grant Applications.
July 14th, 2011. Wiarton, Ontario—The Spruce the Bruce Grant Committee met in July 2011 to review the first intake of the Grant Applications. There were thirteen applications, and eight applicants were awarded grants.
Congratulation Grant Recipients!
Community Signage Grant:
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Municipality of Huron Kinloss, Trail Signage
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Lion’s Head Promotional Group, 6 Billboards on Highway 6
Destination Infrastructure Grant
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Tiverton Agriculture Society, Commemorative Signage
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Sauble Beach Chamber of Commerce, Picnic Tables
Destination Marketing Grant
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Lucknow Chamber of Commerce, ‘General Store’ Brand Development
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Municipality of Huron Kinloss, Ice Cream Trail
Streetscape Beautification Grant
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Municipality of Kincardine, Waste Receptacle Painting
Façade Improvement & Design Services Grant
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775 Queen St. Kincardine, formerly Corabelle’s – Paint & Façade Upgrades
Perpendicular Signage & Awning Grant
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Beans Bistro, Kincardine, Awning
The next intake will be on August 2nd, 2011. Grants will be available until all 2011 funds run out.
BACKGROUND
Spruce the Bruce (STB) is a local community improvement initiative created by the County of Bruce, in partnership with Bruce Community Futures Development Corporation and Saugeen Economic Development Corporation. Its goal is to enact positive change to support livable, economically viable communities. This program focuses on downtown cores as Bruce County main streets represents over 70% of our commercial assessment and are main point of contact with tourism dollars. The STB Program has been initiated to assist communities with improvements that make them more attractive, pedestrian-friendly, and distinctive. The Spruce the Bruce team offers expertise, policy development, and access to grants to support downtown revitalization projects.
June 16, 2011- the STB Grant Program was launched. The County of Bruce allocated $120,000.00 towards the six grant streams. The 2011 grants are Streetscape Beautification, Facade Improvement & Design Services, Perpendicular Signage, Community Signage, Destination Infrastructure, and Destination Marketing.
The six grants streams and STB matching cash contributions are:
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Façade Improvement and Design Services Grant, up to $3500
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Streetscape Beautification Grant, up to $5000
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Destination Infrastructure Grant, up to $2500
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Destination Marketing Grant, up to $2500
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Community Signage Grant, up to $5000
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Perpendicular Storefront Grant, up to $1000.00
How to Apply
All you need to do is visit our website www.explorethebruce.com/sprucethebruce for a copy of one the six grant applications. You must meet the eligible criteria to be awarded the grants.
2010 SUCCESS STORY
In 2010, STB Committee created Community Toolkits for Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula, South Bruce Peninsula and Huron Kinloss. STB Committee created a Community Toolkit for Town of South Bruce Peninsula which includes Sauble Beach, Hepworth, Allenford and Wiarton. Each town has its own established identity. By utilizing the 2011 Grants, Community Fundraising, and partnerships, Town of South Bruce Peninsula was able to change their town to represent their identity.
Below Danielle Mulasmajic, Town of South Bruce Peninsula Economic Development Officer shares their success:
Spruce the Bruce Success Story
[Interviewer] Name of Municipality, Establish Group or Downtown Business:
[Danielle Mulasmajic (DM)] Town of South Bruce Peninsula
[Interviewer] What is your Brand, Identity, and Vision?
[DM] We have distinct brands for each of our four ‘urban centres’:
The Sauble Beach brand is Retro, family fun, old fashioned values…’a simpler time’. This theme uses bright, splashy colours, sleek surfaces and strong lines.
Wiarton’s brand is Wiarton Wille’s Basecamp, rustic, family adventures…’basecamp for your next Bruce Peninsula adventure’. This theme picks up aspects of local nature and promotes locally sourced materials.
Allenford’s brand is a laid back, picturesque rural community with traditional family values. The theme carries through earthy, natural tones incorporating the communities ‘iconic’ bridge and river.
Hepworth’s brand is the ‘Cross Roads’ with hidden gems, a meeting place in a rural setting to refuel and gear up. Hepworth’s look is a little more sleek with ‘on the go’, contemporary themes.
[Intvw] Which STB Grant were you awarded?
[DM] The programs that we applied for and were awarded in 2010 were: Façade Improvement Grant, Streetscape Beautification Grant, Community Signage Grant and the Destination Infrastructure & Marketing Grant.
What did you use your STB Grant Towards?
[DM] The funds were used to make improvements to the new Tourism Information Centre in Wiarton, to purchase many new furnishings for our downtowns (geared towards our respective brands), to develop the Allenford Gateway Sign and towards the Splashpad project in Bluewater Park (Wiarton).
[Interviewer] What changes have you seen in your municipality since Spruce the Bruce?
[DM] Community pride has increased in all of our communities and we have seen a number of additional façade improvements and community projects take place. Businesses and services groups have been so impressed by the improvements that they are inquiring as to how they can be involved. The splash pad project in particular has been a huge boost to the community, providing a fun and free alternative for families, but also an attractive reprieve for tourists travelling on the highway. Public use of Bluewater Park has greatly increased already and we expect it to grow as word spreads about the many improvements. Working with the Spruce the Bruce team has added a level of expertise to our projects in planning, design, landscaping, etc.
[Interviewer] What are your future plans to continue to succeed?
[DM] We plan to work closely with the Spruce the Bruce team and to continue making improvements in our communities using our distinctive brands as a guide. This year we have murals planned for Wiarton and Sauble Beach, more ‘themed’ furnishings and a new Gateway Sign in Wiarton.
For more information about Spruce the Bruce and Grants Applications please visit www.explorethebruce.com/sprucethebruce or e-mail us at sprucethebruce@explorethebruce.com.
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